MUSIC lovers in Chester are gearing up for a summer packed with exciting events despite the decision not to hold any outdoor concerts this year.

MUSIC lovers in Chester are gearing up for a summer packed with exciting events despite the decision not to hold any outdoor concerts this year.

The Chester Summer Music Festival will not be staging any of the popular outdoor Grosvenor Park concerts which, in previous years, have brought the likes of Van Morrison, The Pretenders and Paul Young to the city.

But a festival spokesman said: 'The summer music festival is alive and well and living in Chester. This year's event will see a broad range of exciting performances at venues across the city by the likes of Tasmin Little, The King's Consort, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, The Blues Band, and for disco lovers, Hot Chocolate and The Real Thing.

'We won't be staging any large outdoor performances this year due to the unavailability of artists we had hoped to attract, but there will be a full itinerary of indoor events that will turn the city into a magnet for music lovers this summer.'

The Summer Music Festival is backed by Chester City Council, Cheshire County Council and the Arts Council, and is one of the focal points in the city's events calendar, drawing audiences from far and wide.

The festival will be complemented by other major events taking place this summer, which are also being backed by the city council.

These include the Midsummer Watch, the Mystery Plays, the Chester International Horse Show and the 1970s tribute outdoor concert at the Roodee Racecourse.

Councillor David Evans, leader of the city council, said: 'Chester stages a broad range of cultural events during the summer that contribute to the millions of visitors the city attracts every year.

'Events like the music festival not only help boost the local economy and tourism, but also help enrich the lives of residents and visitors alike and play an important role in the vibrant cultural life of the city.'